How to Add Programs to Start When Windows XP Loads
One part of the Windows startup procedure is running programs located in the "Startup" directory. Shortcuts placed in this directory start the program each time the user boots the Windows machine. These icons can also be removed from this directory to stop programs from running each time Windows is started. The process of creating startup programs is to add a shortcut to the "Startup" directory in the Windows Start menu and reboot the machine.
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Instructions
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Click the Windows "Start" button and select "My Computer." Navigate to the "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup" directory. This is the startup directory for all users on the machine. To add a program that starts for only one user, replace "All Users" with the login user name for that user.
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Right-click the window and select "New." From the list of options, select "Shortcut." This starts a wizard to create a new shortcut within that directory.
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Click the "Browse" button. Select the program's executable file and press the "Next" button. An executable file is one that ends in ".exe." The file is located in the directory in which you installed the software. For most programs, this file is located in the "C:\Program Files." Within this directory is another list of directories with the names of the programs you have installed on the machine. Double-click the program directory and then double-click the program's file name that ends in ".exe."
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Type a name for the shortcut in the next window. This can be any name, so you recognize the shortcut icon. Click the "Finish" button. When the wizard closes, you will see a new shortcut in the startup directory.
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Reboot the machine. After you log in to the computer, the new startup shortcut prompts the Windows XP machine to start the program.
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Tips & Warnings
Too many programs in the startup directory can cause a Windows machine to boot very slowly.
